• Schaller-Schwaner Iris

Introduction The adjective/prəˈfɪʃnt/ proficient (in/at (doing) something) means ‘able to do sth well because of training and practice’ (OALD 9th ed). The noun proficiency is also used in descriptions of language competence, more specifically even as a label for the highest-level certificate of the Cambridge ESOL. More generally, language learners at the advanced levels C1 and C2 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) are described as proficient users. C1 is also named Effective Operational Proficiency and C2 Mastery. In this course, all these senses are implicated. A high level of English language proficiency is required for studying English at university level and for success in a language teaching or other career as a language professional. The course offers to raise participants’ practical language skills, including control of language quality, mainly in prepared, unprepared and public speech, as well as their language awareness, e.g. in terms of grammatical and stylistic concepts, and to expand their (academic) vocabulary. It will focus on actively producing English orally, i.e. speaking, in text-focused and communicative oral tasks and activities typical of academic settings. These will include collaboratively and/or individually exploring topics and constructing and extending arguments or preparing, contributing to or leading discussions on a variety of topics (to be developed and researched). Fluent, clear and intelligible English pronunciation is part of oral proficiency. The course also aims to enable participants to become autonomous learners who will continue improving their English beyond this course and to enhance their study skills by encouraging use of ‘heuristic’ instruments such as dictionaries, grammars, corpora, search engines etc. Sections of a course book (cf. below), excerpts of academic publications, materials from the web and articles from the press as well as reference works will be used. Close attention will also be paid to written and spoken texts and their language features and functions. Participants should prepare to pay attention to details of language, notice language difficulties and reframe what they learnt before. The course aims to head learners off into the direction of the C2 level of the CEFR. It is not intended as a course preparing for the Cambridge Proficiency Exam, though some relevant materials will be used. Descriptive and pedagogical language work and communicative study tasks as well as academic speaking task are combined here to improve participants’ metalinguistic awareness as well as their practical language skills and their learner agency. Participants will develop grammatical and stylistic concepts, expand their academic vocabulary and become more autonomous language learners.

Learning objectives and course content The CEFR’s C1/C2 descriptors will be examined with a view to the grammatical and lexical accuracy, complexity and fluency they require. In general, a proficient user at C1 “can understand a wide range of demanding, longer texts, and recognise implicit meaning. Can express him/herself fluently and spontaneously without much obvious searching for expressions. Can use language flexibly and effectively for social, academic and professional purposes. Can produce clear, well-structured, detailed text.” At C2 a proficient user “can understand with ease virtually everything heard or read. Can summarise information from different spoken and written sources, reconstructing arguments and accounts in a coherent presentation. Can express him/herself spontaneously, very fluently and precisely, differentiating finer shades of meaning even in more complex situations.” Specific aims of this course include expansion of participants’ general Academic English, awareness of stylistic differences, resourcefulness in oral production and interaction, honing listening and reading skills for sophisticated language use. The SS will extend complex sentence patterns (relative clauses) and focus on the progressive aspect, passive voice and when and why it is used, speech act verbs and reported speech, conditional constructions and hypothetical meaning. Vocabulary work always focuses on the lexis of all texts used and on the Academic Word List. Learning outcomes In the written test metalinguistic awareness as well as focused form-oriented language skills will be demonstrated by students in accurately completing written test tasks of vocabulary association, gap filling, sentence manipulation, rewriting, identifying structures, choosing linguistic forms, explaining language use, applying metalanguage. At the end of the course, participants will be able to give an effective presentation of 7 -10 minutes on a topic negotiated with the teacher and researched individually but related to an area of intellectual inquiry to be determined in class. In this oral presentation they will be demonstrating ability to speak freely from notes, using an appropriate range of vocabulary, grammatical structures and sign-posting phrases, organizing and linking ideas and arguments logically, showing awareness of oral presentation conventions, and maintaining language quality with regard to lexis, structure, style and pronunciation. They will be able to establish audience rapport, manage the available time, answer questions in the discussion of their presentation and engage with other participants’ talks, e.g. by asking follow-up questions. Students are expected to invest and engage in the learning process so that they will be able to search and use academic and popular sources of information as well as select and summarize relevant aspects; draw on and acknowledge sources explicitly (also referring to them orally in the presentation following the author-date system); reflect complex arguments; relate relevant personal realizations, insights and experiences; attribute, connect and critically examine ideas; account for their take on a topic, identify issues and stimulate or invite reactions from their interlocutors or audience. They will avoid plagiarism, provocation and propaganda as well as minimalist recycling of work done for other courses. Participants are also expected to prepare, initiate and sustain discussions and contribute to them by arguing their points fluently but also responding to other speakers.

Required materials Gude, K.; Duckworth, M. & Rogers, L. 2012. Cambridge English Proficiency Masterclass. Student’s book with online skills & language practice. Oxford: OUP. All audios, the audio script and the answer key are available for free online at https://elt.oup.com/student/masterclass/?cc=ch&selLanguage=en Access to an advanced learner’s dictionary and a descriptive reference grammar for students is essential. A range of reference works can be used at Criblet 13, 1st floor (BLE Library and SAC) For self-study: Access to the Academic Word List (AWL), which is divided into ten sub-lists, is available online in various formats at http://www.victoria.ac.nz/lals/resources/academicwordlist/

Attendance, course requirements, assessment, exam registration Attendance in this course is compulsory; you must not miss more than two class sessions. You have to register in Gestens for this course and you also have to register for the first exam session right away, i.e. you commit to taking the written test during the first exam session and to giving your oral presentation before the end of the semester. You also agree to engage in continuous interactive and individual oral work to develop productive language skills with respect to accuracy, complexity and fluency. Continuous assessment includes a successful oral presentation (topic to be individually negotiated with and confirmed by the lecturer) and a successful written test on materials covered. Revising for the test during the semester enhances engagement and progress in the learning experience. It forms part of the ongoing process as a means of pacing the learners’ investment in their skills development. Therefore, the written test cannot be postponed to a subsequent exam session.

Attendance, course requirements, assessment, exam registration Attendance in this course is compulsory; you must not miss more than two class sessions. You have to register in Gestens for this course and you also have to register for the first exam session right away, i.e. you commit to taking the written test during the first exam session and to giving your oral presentation before the end of the semester. You also agree to engage in continuous interactive and individual oral work to develop productive language skills with respect to accuracy, complexity and fluency. Continuous assessment includes a successful oral presentation (topic to be individually negotiated with and confirmed by the lecturer) and a successful written test on materials covered. Revising for the test during the semester enhances engagement and progress in the learning experience. It forms part of the ongoing process as a means of pacing the learners’ investment in their skills development. Therefore, the written test cannot be postponed to a subsequent exam session.

Attendance, course requirements, assessment, exam registration Attendance in this course is compulsory; you must not miss more than two class sessions. You have to register in Gestens for this course and you also have to register for the first exam session right away, i.e. you commit to taking the written test during the first exam session and to giving your oral presentation before the end of the semester. You also agree to engage in continuous interactive and individual oral work to develop productive language skills with respect to accuracy, complexity and fluency. Continuous assessment includes a successful oral presentation (topic to be individually negotiated with and confirmed by the lecturer) and a successful written test on materials covered. Revising for the test during the semester enhances engagement and progress in the learning experience. It forms part of the ongoing process as a means of pacing the learners’ investment in their skills development. Therefore, the written test cannot be postponed to a subsequent exam session.

Attendance, course requirements, assessment, exam registration Attendance in this course is compulsory; you must not miss more than two class sessions. You have to register in Gestens for this course and you also have to register for the first exam session right away, i.e. you commit to taking the written test during the first exam session and to giving your oral presentation before the end of the semester. You also agree to engage in continuous interactive and individual oral work to develop productive language skills with respect to accuracy, complexity and fluency. Continuous assessment includes a successful oral presentation (topic to be individually negotiated with and confirmed by the lecturer) and a successful written test on materials covered. Revising for the test during the semester enhances engagement and progress in the learning experience. It forms part of the ongoing process as a means of pacing the learners’ investment in their skills development. Therefore, the written test cannot be postponed to a subsequent exam session.